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 News Release

For Release: September 19, 2006

BACKGROUNDER

THE MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT'S RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SUPPORTS RURAL ONTARIO

The Rural Economic Development (RED) program is an initiative that helps rural communities remove barriers to economic growth. RED is one example of how the Ontario government is on the side of families in rural Ontario.

The program provides funding for projects that support sustainable rural economies and community partnerships in three priority areas: improved access to health care services, revitalized communities and downtowns, and enhanced skills training.

Program achievements

The RED program has successfully funded projects that include downtown revitalization, business retention and expansion, and information technology. It also supports solutions that promote access to health care service delivery.

Since October 2003, 89 projects have been approved. These projects will stimulate $158.7 million in new economic activity, generated from a $26.7-million investment by the province.

Highlights

Through the Rural Economic Development Program, the government has:

  • Invested more than $3 million for 10 communities to help support solutions that increase and promote access to healthcare services.
  • Invested more than $12 million across Ontario to facilitate recruitment and training opportunities for over 1,000 local workers.
  • Invested more than $10 million in bio-economy projects such as anaerobic digestion of agricultural waste and the conversion of wood waste products to bio-oils.
  • Provided funding to several First Nations training projects in tourism, hospitality and skills related to forestry and natural resources.


Examples of projects that have been funded include:

Project Title RED Grant Project Description
Kapuskasing Train Station Project $824,500 The project included the revitalization and renovation of the local train station into a welcome centre and upgraded the Ron Morel Memorial Museum.
Ontario Chocolate Factory with NAFTA Production Mandate $1,735,687 The company will implement a skills development and training program in addition to an employee recruitment strategy designed to attract employees from the Brantford area.
Chatham-Kent Medical Recruitment and Education Project $132,721 This project will assist with nursing retention and recruitment, general medical recruitment and youth initiatives.
Integrated Workforce Development Initiatives for Rural Economic Competitiveness "Awareness, Access, and Productivity for the Manufacturing Sector" $1,059,500 This project will improve the ability of local manufacturing companies to compete on a global basis, placing the Greater Quinte Region at the forefront of investment readiness.
Skills or Healthcare Attraction & Retention Pilot (SHARP) $317,750 The SHARP project will implement and evaluate a three-year pilot to test an alternative approach to the recruitment needs of the rural health care sector.
Downtown Revitalization - City of Dryden $425,000 The goal of this project is to revitalize downtown Dryden through aesthetic and functional improvements.
The Oil Heritage District Community Centre $500,000 Project partners propose to provide a multi-use community and recreation centre for rural residents in Lambton County.
Proctor and Gamble Eastern Ontario Investment Project $2,000,000 The project promotes job creation, permanent investment, research innovation, and skills training and enhancement.
Lynn Cattle T.I.M. (Turnkey Integrated Manure) Project $1,604,603 This project will help establish an integrated anaerobic digestion facility. The biogas will be used to generate electricity which will be used for on-farm applications as well as sold to the Municipality of North Middlesex.
Centre for Manufacturing Innovation $700,000 This technology centre will serve as an incubator for the creation of new companies.
Town of Ingersoll Downtown Revitalization Project $547,500 This project will create a vibrant and healthy downtown to help attract new businesses.
Tourism Revitalization in Stratford $425,643 The project will develop a five-year business plan to revitalize downtown Stratford.
Ontario Speed Skating Oval At Lakefield $849,968 This project involves building Ontario's only temperature-controlled, outdoor 400-metre speed skating oval.
PATHFINDER $1,326,500 This project will create the infrastructure needed to advance technologies related to DNA profiling, forensics, robotics, and geomatics.
Place des Pionniers $321,835 This project will revitalize downtown Hawkesbury through aesthetic and functional improvements.
Biofuel to Biofood Research and Demonstration Farms $292,500 The project will construct two anaerobic digesters that will convert biogas from manure into heat and electricity.
Moving Eastern and Northern Ontario Communities to Compete $1,458,890 This project will enhance the global competitiveness of rural communities in Eastern and Northern Ontario through the use of advanced manufacturing training strategies.
First Nations Natural Resources Youth Employment Program $590,335 The program offers First Nations youth a safe environment for skills training related to forestry and natural resources.
The Alton Mill Initiative: Creating an Arts Heritage Destination $774,000 This initiative will convert a heritage stone mill complex into an arts-oriented tourism destination.
Main Street Middlesex $270,000 This project will develop and implement downtown revitalization strategies in Middlesex County.
How to apply

Applications are available at www.omafra.gov.on.ca, Ontario Government Information Centres, or by calling 1-888-588-4111.

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Contact:
Christopher Flavelle
Minister's Office
(416) 326-3072

Brian Cardy
Rural Investments Branch
519-826-3787

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